Fountain toothbrush



March 4, 1952 LE ROY E. WALKER .ET AL 2,587,794

FOUNTAIN TOOTHBRUSH 2 SHEETS--SHEET l Filed Aug. 22, 194'? March 4, 1952 LE ROY E. WALKER ET AL 2,587,794

FOUNTAIN TOOTHBRUSH 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 Filed Aug. 22, 1947 INVENTOR. WAL KEA E. GLEN ,Q Mom-0N,

e Roy TTORNE YS.

Patented Mar. 4, 1952 FOUNTAIN TQUTHBRUSH Le RoylEaWalker, Mullen,^iandxG1enn R.1Morton, l,Grand Island-Nehru `ApplicationAugust 22, 1947, Serial No. 770,148

2 lClaims.

vThis invention relates `to improvements `in fountain-type brushes, and moref-particularly'to an improved, fountain-type `toothbrush @having a hollow handle portion providingareceptacle or `reservoir'for dentifrice.

It is among the objectsfoftheinventiontoprovide an improved fountain:toothbrushhavingffa brush `portion provided with 'the usuali bristle `tufts and a hollow handle portion `providing :a dentifrice receptacle 'or reservoir"vhaving-a capacity sufiicient for a `large numberoff-"applications of dentifrice and dentifrice-ejecting-means carried by the handle'portion and-manuallyoperated to eject measured quantities-fdentifrice each suflicient Vfor a vsingleiapplication ^onto the bristlesv of the' brush portion; which Vbrush eliminates the necessity of 'keeping-a separatezdentifrice `container available, particularly fwhile traveling when ordinarytoothpaste tubes-arej'fre- .quentlyllost or broken andfspilVtheir-contents 'onto articles in atraveling bag or toiletkitvln which they are transported, facilitates the economical use of dentifricebymeasuring out the proper amount lfor each application, "which-provides a rigid, Asealed container"'forthe dentifrice, protecting the dentifrice against 'leakage vvand contaminationg'which 'is effective to 'ejectthe proper amount of dentifrice'onto the bristles ybyfa single manual operation of the l'ejectingrmechaxnism, deposits the dentifrice Aon-thc'outer ends ofthe bristle tufts,whi`ch is arrangedto Vclearly indicate the Vquantity of dentifricetherein'at-.yall

times, is simple anddurable infconstruction, economical to manufacture,andneatand attractive' in appearance. j

A further objectresides in 'theprovisionfofa fountain-type toothbrush having at hollow han- Idle portion providing afdentifricey` reservoir and `including manually-'operated 1 dentifrice-:ejecting means, and `a brush portion ,includin-gfybristles supportedin aback' which isprovidedfwith Aa 'dentifrice canalv leading to the outer'fendsxofsaid bristles; and is detachably secured-,tof thehandle portion so thatthe brush'portionmay be renewed when necessary, or desired," continuing-fthehany, dle portion andthe ldentifrice-ejecting, mechanism inuse.

.Other objects and, advantages willjbecomeilapparent from a consideration ffthefllowingfde- `scription in conjunction `with the*accompanyirjigl drawings, wherein:

.Figure 1 is-alongitudinal ,j elevationf.` afountain-type toothbrush illustrative fthe inven- Vconstituting an operative component offtheimproved toothbrush;

`f l'igure i 4 is.` a, longitudinall cross-sectionofl ,the

(mezza-e378) check-valve'illustrated in Figure `3,'and `a rigid support therefor;

Figure y5 is-a perspective-view of the checkvalvesupport shown in longitudinal cross-section 5 'in Figurel;

Figure `6 is 'a longitudinalcross-section `of a "somewhatwmodied form of fountain-type toothbrush;

Figure 'l isan elevation of a fragmentary; pormftionof astillfurther `modified form of toothlbi-ush, a'jportion being broken awayandshown 1v'in cross-section'to better illustrate the constructionv thereof;

Figure \8 is ailongitudinalcross-section of a tubular plunger and piston constituting an oper- --ative componentof 'themodied formof tooth- `brushI illustrated in Figure 6; and

"Figure 9 isa perspective view of alfollower con- Wstitutingan operative component of both forms H of the toothbrush as illustrated in Figures: 2 and 6. With continued reference to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, and Figure 9, the improved toothbrush comprises al handle portion, generally indicated at I0, preferably, "but not necessarilyhaving the form of an elongated, -cylindricalbarrel with a longitudinallyextending bore II therein. The handle portion "I0 maybe formed of any suitable material, but a number of advantages have been found in 301,forming` thisbarrel of a transparent or substan- .,.tia1ly `transparent synthetic resin plastic material Aibrush portion, generally indicated at I2, a-iextends. froml one end of the handle portion I0 and 4may be` integral therewith, as illustrated in Figuresl 1and`2. `The end of the handle portion Illgoppositeithe brush'portion is open and is pro- "vided :with external vscrew threads which. receive an:internally-screW-threaded end-,closure cap I3 ,1U-havingazthickenedend-wall I4 provided with a centralfbore or aperture.

@The-brush'portion I2 `is provided on one side thereof with conventional bristle tufts I5 and internally thereof with a dentifrice canal I6.

a The canal I6 is provided near its outer end with a'right-tanglec'turn ande-emerges to thef bristle surface ofthe `brush `at substantially the center bristleY tuft which center tuft is omitted and replacedbya tubular, flexible member I1 preferablyformed of flexible plastic material and which extends 4the dentifrice canal to the outer ends offthei bristle `tufts I5 so that dentifrice forced throught the canal I6 will be carried to the outer ends of the bristles and deposited thereon,

A counter-bore I8 smaller than the handle bore II, but larger than the dentifrice canal I6 isyprovidedinftheend of the dentifrice canal adjacent the inner-end of the handle `bore and `connects the dentifrice canal with thehandle ,60 bore. ".ZIhis counter-bore is provided" internally with an annular stop shoulder or abutment I9 in theend portion thereof adjacent to the dentifricefcanal I6, and said end portion is preferably aired into the canal I6 by a frustro-conical portion as indicated at 20. The counter-bore I8 has a .volumetric capacity equal to the volume of aproper quantity of dentifrice for a single application, and is used as a means for properly measuring the dentifrice ejected onto the bristles of the toothbrush for each application of dentifrice.

A check valve, generally indicated at 2I, and illustrated in detail in Figures 3 and 4, is mounted in the end portion of the counter-bore I8 adjacent .the canal I6 and is positioned against the K internal shoulder I9. This check valve comprises a hollow, cylindrical cup of flexible and resilient material having two coaxial, juxtaposed portions of different external and internal diameters. The smaller diameter portion of the cup has an endwall and is provided with an arcuate cut or slit 22 which opens to permit passage of fluid dentifrice vmaterial under pressure from the interior to the exterior of the cup, but closes to preclude the passage of material from the exterior to the interior of the cup. The larger portion of the cup is mounted on an annular boss provided on an apertured support 23 of substantially rigid Y material, which supports the fiexible cup in operative' position against the shouldery I9 and in the corresponding end portion of the counter-bore I8.

An elongated plunger rod 24 extends longitudinally through the handle bore II and into the counter-bore I8 and is provided on its inner end withfa piston 25, preferably formed of flexible material, reciprocable in the counter-bore. At its opposite end the plunger 24 extends through the aperture in the thickened end portion I4 of endclosure cap I 3 and a knob or button 26 is secured on the outer end of the plunger for manual movement thereof.

With the mechanism so far described,l if the counter-bore I8 is lled with dentifrice, .an inward manual movement of the plunger rod 24 will force the piston 25 through the counter-bore as far as the check valve 2| and will force the dentifrice contained in the counter-bore through the check valve and into the dentifrice canal vI6 from which it will flow through the canal extension I1 to the outer ends of the bristles I5. Withdrawal of the piston 25 from the counter-bore'fl by pulling outwardly on the knob 26 will create a vacuum in the counter-bore which serves to re-flll the counter-bore with dentifrice for a sub,"- sequent ejection of dentifrice from the counterboreby the piston 25,`and to impart-movement of a suction operated follower, generally indicated at 21, and illustrated in detail in Figures 2 and 8. The follower 21 is fabricated of flexible material, preferably a suitable synthetic rubber material, is generally cylindrical in shape and is provided with a central bore or opening extending therethrough to slidably receive the plunger 24, the size of the follower being such that it is slidably received in the bore II of the handle portion l0. This follower is provided with a pair of oppositely-disposed, spaced-apart, external annular lips 28 which contact the interior of the both directions of movement of the follower relav tive to the handle portion and with a pair of spaced-apart, annular internal lips 29 which provide uid-tight seals between the follower and vbetweenthe plunger 24 and the interior of the barrel of the handle portion I0 to prevent leakage of air to the inner-end portion of the handle bore.

With the follower 21 in place, when the piston 25 is withdrawn from the counter-bore I8 the vacuum created in the counter-bore by rearward movement of the piston 25 will be applied to that portion of the handle bore II between the follower 21 and the counter-bore, and'will act to move the follower 21 :inwardly to thereby compress the dentifrice contained in this portion of the handle bore and force dentifrice into the counter-bore I8 until the counter-bore is completely 're-filled.

With this arrangement the handle bore II may be filled with dentifrice by removing the cap I3, the plunger 24, the follower 21 and the piston 25 from the handle and pouring or forcing dentifrice into the handle bore. After the dentifrice has been forced into the handle bore the plunger is forced through it and the follower 21 positioned within the handle bore Il at the `outer end of the body of dentifrice contained in the handle bore.

Movement of the piston 25 through the counter-bore I8 will force the contents of the counter-bore into the dentifrice canal I6 and out of the end of this canal onto the bristles I5. Withdrawal of the piston from the counter-bore will cause the follower 21 to move inwardly, refilling the counter-bore `in the manner indicated above, after which a measured quantity of dentifrice may again be forced through the dentifrice canal I6 and onto the bristles l5 by forcing the piston 25 through the counter-bore.

In the modified .arrangement shown in Figure 6, the construction is the same as that illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, and Figure 8, and described above, except that the plunger 30 of Figure 6 is made tubular and provided in its end portion adjacent the piston 25 with a lateral opening or outlet 3| and the knob or button 32 corresponding to the knob 26, is made hollow and provided with internal screw threads of a diameter to receive the threaded extension on the end of a conventional toothpaste tube.

With this arrangement the extension or spout of a toothpaste tube may be screwed into the knob 32 and the dentifrice forced into the handle bore ll through the tubular plunger 30 and the lateral opening 3I therein. With this arrangement it is not necessary to remove the cap I3 or the plunger, piston and follower from the hollow handle in order to refill the dentifrice reservoir provided in the handle.

The portion of the tubular plunger 30 between the lateral openings 3| and the piston 25 is preferably filled with a plug 33 of solid material to prevent the accumulation of a non-removable quantity of dentifrice in this end portion of the plunger and a screw plug 34 having an externally-screw-threaded boss 35 thereon is threadable into the hollow knob 32 to close the outer end of the tubular plunger 36 after the dentifricereservoir in the hollow handle I0 has been filled.

In the modified form shown in Figure 1,the construction is the same as that illustrated in Figures 1 and`2, or in Figure 6, and described above, except that the brush portion I2 is made f separable from the handle portion I0' so that the brush may be renewed when necessary or desired, continuing the handle portion and the dentifrice-ejecting mechanism in use. As illustrated, the handle portion I0 is provided on the brush-receiving end thereof with an externallyscrew-threaded cylindrical boss or extension 36 and the brush portion I 2 is provided with an internally-screW-threaded socket which receives the extension 36 to detachably secure the brush in operative position on the handle. The handle portion may be made completely symmetrical so that the rotational position of the brush relative thereto is entirely immaterial.

There is thus provided a fountain-type toothbrush having a dentifrice reservoir of a capacity to hold a quantity of dentifrice suiiicient for a large number of applications, and manuallyoperated means carried by the handle and effective to eject a measured quantity of dentifrice suiiicient for a single application from the dentifrice reservoir onto the bristles of the brush at each manual operation of this ejecting mechanism. A quantity of dentifrice suiricient for a large number of applications can be carried in the brush and ejected for use, when desired, thus avoiding the necessity of keeping a separate dentifrice container available. The brush is small in size and light in Weight so that it can be conveniently carried, and if desired, may be provided with a cap to cover the bristles so that it may be carried in a pocket or in a purse or handbag.

'Ihe invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is. claimed is:

1. In a dispensing device, a tubular handle adapted to contain iiuid material, said handle having a main bore to accommodate the nuid material and a reduced diameter bore opening into one end of said main bore, said reduced bore having therein an abutment spaced from said -one end of the main bore, a check valve in said reduced bore comprising a resilient material cup having a rst portion filling said reduced bore and lbearing against said abutment, said first portion having an open end facing the said one end of the main bore, and a second portion of reduced diameter remote from the open end of the first portion, said second portion being closed and being spaced from the sides of said reduced handle bore and positioned beyond said abutment, said second portion being provided in its side with a normally closed .discharge slit, and a piston operable in said reduced handle bore toward said cup to compress iluid material present in said reduced bore between said piston and said cup in a manner to distort said second portion of the cup,V and open the slit therein to discharge the compressed iluid material into the space in said reduced bore around said second cup portion and beyond said abutment.

2. In a dispensing device, a tubular handle adapted to contain fluid material, said handle having a main bore to accommodate the fluid material and a reduced diameter bore opening into one end of said main bore, said reduced bore having therein an abutment spaced from said one end of the main bore, a check valve in said reduced bore comprising a resilient material cup having a rst portion lling said reduced bore and bearing against said abutment, said. rst portion having an open end facing the said one end of the main bore, and a second portion of reduced diameter remote from the open end of the first portion, said second portion being closed and being spaced from the sides of said reduced handle bore and positioned beyond said abutment, said second portion being provided in its side with a normally closed discharge slit, and a piston operable in said reduced handle bore toward said cup to compress fluid material present in said reduced bore between said piston and said cup in a manner to distort said second portion of the cup and open the slit therein to discharge the compressed fluid material into the space in said reduced bore around said second cup portion and beyond said abutment, said check valve further comprising a rigid material support having a first portion fitting said reduced handle bore and abutting the open end of the iirst portion of the cup and a second portion of reduced diameter extending into and tting the open end oi' the first portion of said cup.

LE ROY E. WALKER. GLENN R. MORTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 846,032 Keller Mar. 5, 1907 1,581,277v McLaughlin Apr. 20, 1926 1,593,025 MacDonald July 20, 1926 1,682,898 Fesler Sept. 4, 1928 1,723,269 Davis Aug. 6, 1929 1,739,871 Smith Dec. 17, 1929 1,906,410 Depasse Apr. 25, 1933 1,998,752 Creveling Apr. 23, 1935 2,232,521 Gray Feb. 18, 1941 2,248,940 Berg July 15. 1941 2,305,158 Hanses Dec. 15, 1942 2,328,863 Threm Sept. 17, 1943 2,433,506 Davis Dec.. 30, 1947 2,520,306 Detweiler Aug. 29, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 350,937 Great Britain June 15, 1931 

